Article 370 is political fraud, unconstitutional: RSS

Pointing out that Article 370 was a "political fraud enacted on the country", senior RSS leader Arun Kumar said that the article was unconstitutional, which has victimised the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the nation.

Pointing out that Article 370 was a "political fraud enacted on the country", senior RSS leader Arun Kumar said that the article was unconstitutional, which has victimised the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the nation.

Speaking in a debate on Article 370 on Wednesday, Kumar exhorted Jammu and Kashmir citizens saying, "The onus of spreading right information in other parts of India lies on the people of the state. Whenever the image of Jammu and Kashmir comes in the mind, it only reminisces of autonomy, self-rule,

fundamentalism, separatism and cross-border terrorism, while the vital issues do not come to the fore."Kumar added, "The people of the state need to understand that Article 370 is against the SC/ST/OBC and women. Till 1991, the STs had no rights and still they are deprived of any political reservation. Non-incorporation of the 73rd and 74th amendment to the Indian constitution has hampered the development of both villages and cities."

"A time has come to generate a debate on Article 370. It is never mentioned in Article 370 that Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a special status, which was only a temporary provision. Section 35-A, which was incorporated in the article, is unconstitutional", he claimed.

Alleging that there has been blatant misuse of the Article, Kumar said, "Whatever has happened under the garb of Article 370 has been told to be done as per aspirations of people of the state, while Maharaja Hari Singh never said that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India was done as the wish of the citizens. Some vested interests are misusing the Article to suit their needs."

Advocate Sunil Sethi said that Article 370 had given birth to separatism. "The thought of a separate state has, over the years, given birth to separatism, which has been used by the Pakistani media, while the nationalist forces oppose such perception."

"Article 370 is responsible for lack of industrial development, employment and lack of opportunity to students. We have to live like other states, if want to prosper and develop", said Sethi.

He added, "The abrogation of Article 370 is not a demand of any political party, but the will of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. A debate need to be generated on the issue in the country and its legal side should also come out."